Bag with reserve capacity



Dec. 27, 1966 c. MULLINS 3,294,312

BAG WITH RESERVE CAPACITY Filed Jan. 15, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 I NVENTOR. Cum/s M014 //v BY g M Dec. 27, 1966 c. MULLINS BAG WITH RESERVE CAPACITY 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 15, 1965 INVENTOR. 60/9775 M01 Z/A/S BY liiwav 666 Dec. 27, 1966 c. MULLINS 3,294,312

BAG WITH RESERVE CAPACITY Filed Jan. 15, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 r V Z 1! TELCTILZ.

INVENTOR. Uz/kr/s M04 L W5 3,294,312 Patented Dec. 27, 1966 three 3,294,312 BAG WITH RESERVE CAPAQITY Curtis Mullins, 368 Tompkins Ave, Brooklyn, NY. 11216 Fiied Fan. 15, 11965, er. No. 425,730 16 Claims. (Cl. 229-53) This invention relates to bags and, more particularly, to a collapsible bag with reserve capacity.

Bags manufactured in accordance with prior art techniques have proved unsatisfactory in that no reserve capacity is provided. This is particularly troublesome when the bag is to be employed as a garbage bag. Frequently, garbage and other refuse is deposited in the bag until the bag is filled either to or beyond its capacity before the bag is disposed of and replaced with a new, empty one. The attendant dificulties of disposing of a conventional garbage bag and its contents, when the bag is filled to and beyond its capacity, are well known. Even when a conventional bag is filled only to full capacity and not to overflowing, the side walls of the bag cannot be brought together to close the bag and prevent garbage from spilling out, especially when transporting the bag. The only alternative, with a conventional bag, is to remove some of the garbage and place it in a second bag. Furthermore, conventional bags provide no means particularly adapted for sealing the filled bag, and rather require that the side walls of the bag be brought together to close the open top of the bag with the result that the bag capacity is further limited.

The present invention overcomes these problems of prior art bags by providing a bag having both reserve capacity and a closure flap for sealing the bag. The reserve capacity, as the term implies, is not made available while the bag is being filled, but only becomes available upon lifting the bag to dispose of it. Thus, even though the bag had previously been filled to and beyond its capacity, as the reserve capacity becomes available, the contents will settle downwardly into the bag, enabling sealing of the bag with the closure flap. The closure flap is designed so that it neither limits full utilization of the bag capacity nor contributes to a false sense of providing increased capacity while the bag is being filled.

In many cases, it is desirable that bags may be employed for garbage collection in the home after first serving a different purpose. For example, bags in which grocery products are brought home from a market may be subsequently employed as garbage bags. When filling the bag with groceries, it is desirable that the bag have a rectangular bottom to facilitate neat and efficient packing or depositing of goods. A rectangular bottom is also preferable when loading a bag with garbage. Furthermore, the bag must have a strong bottom which will not tend to break through due to the weight and/ or dampness of the contents. It is also important that the bag be collapsible or foldable into a small package for convenient storage prior to use either as a grocery bag or a garbage bag.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a bag having reserve capacity.

Another object of this invention is to provide. a bag having reserve capacity and having means for sealing the bag to prevent spillage.

A further object of this invention is to provide a method of constructing a bag with reserve capacity at a minimal cost and with maximum utilization of the sheet material from which it is formed.

Yet another object of thisinvention is to provide a bag having reserve capacity and having a reinforced bottom.

Yet a further object of this invention is to provide a bag having reserve capacity and having a reinforced rectangular bottom.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a bag having reserve capacity and which is collapsible into a small package for convenient storage.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a bag having reserve capacity, sealing means to prevent spillage and a rectangular, reinforced bottom, and which is collapsible into a small package for storage.

These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds and the features of novelty will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this application.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the bag is formed from a single, generally rectangular, unitary sheet of material and includes a pair of opposed end wall panels and a pair of opposed side wall panels, a base, and a closure flap extending along the top edge of at least one of the side wall panels. The base includes a bottom comprising a pair of bottom panels secured together in superposed relationship and joining the pair of opposed side wall panels. The base further includes a pair of expansible pockets integrally joining respectively associated ones of the pair of opposed end wall panels with the bottom panels. The pockets are normally folded upwardly from the bottom edge of the end wall panels respectively associated therewith and into contiguous relationship with the panels. The pockets are thereby maintained in a closed condition, and the bottom panels of the bag abut the bottom edges of the end wall panels. When the bag is filled, it is raised by grasping one of more of the wall panels of the bag. The contents of the bag exert a downward pressure upon the bottom of the bag, causing the pockets to unfold from their contiguous relationship with the end wall panels. As the pockets unfold, the bottom of the bag drops down, or away, from the bottom edges of the end wall panels with which the bottom had been in contiguous relationship when the pockets were in their normally upwardly folded position. As the bottom drops away, or expands, the pockets open, further expanding the bottom and, with the expanding bottom provide reserve capacity for the bag. The closure flap extends along at least one of the side wall panels and, when the contents of the bag settle downwardly into the bag by virtue of its reserve capacity, the closure flap is moved across the top of the bag and secured to the opposed side wall panel to close the top of the bag.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description and drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a blank of sheet material for forming a collapsible bag with reserve capacity in accordance with the invention,

FIGS. 2 and 3 show successive steps in the folding of the blank of FIG. 1 in forming the bag of the invention in accordance with a first construction technique,

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along a plane represented by the line 4-4 in FIG. 3 showing the base construction of the bag,

FIGS. 5 and 6 show successive forming and folding steps subsequent to the folding steps of FIGS. 2 and 3 in the construction of the bag, FIG. 6 also showing the bag open and ready to be filled,

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the bag with the pockets open and the bottom expanded, thereby providing reserve capacity for the bag,

FIG. 8 shows the completed bag folded into collapsed condition for storage,

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the lower portion of the bag in a modified form of the invention incorporating removable retaining strips for securing the pockets in their normally upwardly folded positions.

FIGS. 10 to 12 are perspective views showing successive folding and forming steps in the construction of a bag from the blank of FIG. 1 in accordance with a second construction technique, and

FIG. 13 shows the completed bag, formed in accordance with the second construction technique and folded into a collapsed condition for storage.

In FIG. 1, a generally rectangular blank 1 of sheet material, eg kraft paper, is provided with a plurality of generally parallel, vertical score lines 2, 3, 4, and 5, and an intermediate horizontal score line 6 passing transversely to, and intersecting the vertical score lines 2 to 5. The blank 1 is bounded by vertical edges 7 and 8 and horizontal, vertically displaced edges 15a and 15b joined by vertically inclined edges 15c and by a bottom edge 18. The horizontal edges 15a and the aligned horizontal score line 16 define the top edges of the bag which is formed from the blank 1 and the bottom horizontal score line 6 defines the bottom edges of the bag. The vertical edge 7 and the vertical score line 2 define, between the top edge 15a and the intermediate horizontal score line 6, a first component 10a of a first side wall panel 10. Similarly, between the top edges of the bag, defined by the horizontal edge 15a and the top horizontal score line 16, and the bottom edges of the bag, defined by the intermediate horizontal score line 6, the vertical score lines 2 and 3 define a first end wall panel 12, the vertical score lines 3 and 4 define a second side wall panel 13, the vertical score lines 4 and 5 define a second end wall panel 14, and the vertical score line 5 and vertical edge 8 define a second component 10b of the first side wall panel 10.

The second component 10b includes a vertically disposed marginal strip 11 indicated to be covered with a suitable adhesive for securing the components 10a and 1012 together to form the first side wall panel 10.

The horizontal edges 15b, the vertically inclined edges 15c, and the top horizontal score line 16 define a closure flap 17. The closure flap 17 is integral with the side wall panel 13 and with an adjacent portion, indicated to be one-half, of each of the end wall panels 12 and 14, and is defined therefrom by the top horizontal score line 16. The closure flap 17 is covered with a suitable adhesive, as indicated, whereby it is secured to oppositely disposed portions of the wall panels of the completed bag to close the top of the bag when filled.

The portion of the blank 1 located below the intermediate horizontal score line 6 includes a number of panels which form the base of the bag. Between the intermediate horizontal score line 6 and the bottom edge 18 of the blank 1, the vertical edge 7 and the vertical score line 2 define a first component 20a of a first bottom panel 20, the vertical score lines 2 and 3 define a first pocket-forming panel 21, the vertical score lines 3 and 4 define a second bottom panel 22, the vertical score lines 4 and 5 define a second pocket-forming panel 23, and the vertical score line 5 and the vertical edge 8 of the blank 1 define a second component 20b of the first bottom panel 20.

The first pocket-forming panel 21 includes diagonal score lines 24 and 25 which are aligned with the diagonal edges 26 and 27, respectively, of the bottom edge 18 of the blank 1. First, second, and third subpanels 28 to respectively, are provided in the first pocket-forming panel 21. The first subpanel 28 is connected to the bottom panel component 20a and is defined by the diagonal edge 27, the diagonal score line 24, and a portion of the vertical score line 2; similarly, the second subpanel 29 is connected to the second bottom panel 22 and is defined by the diagonal edge 26, the diagonal score line 25, and a portion of the vertical score line 3. The third subpanel 30 is connected to both of the first and second subpanels 28 and 29 and to the first end wall panel 12 and is defined by the diagonal score lines 24 and 25 and by a portion of the intermediate horizontal score line 6. In similar fashion, the pocket-forming panel 23 includes diagonal score lines 31 and 32 aligned with the diagonal edges 33 and 34 of the blank 1 which, with portions of the vertical score lines 4 and 5 and the intermediate horizontal score line 6, define therein a first subpanel 35 connected with the bottom panel component 20b, a second subpanel 36 connected with the second bottom panel 22, and a third subpanel 37 connected to both the end wall panel 14 and the subpanels 35 and 36.

There are further provided in the blank 1 a pair of vertical score lines 40 and 41 and a bottom horizontal score line 42 along which the blank 1 is folded in accordance with the construction technique indicated in FIGS. 2 and 3 for forming the bag. In FIG. 2, the closure flap 17 is folded downwardly onto the blank 1 along the top horizontal score line 16 as indicated by arrow a. The bottom panel 22 and its integrally related pocket-forming subpanels 29 and 36, in the portions thereof between score line 42 and the bottom edge 18 of blank 1, are folded upwardly onto the blank 1 along the horizontal score line 42, as indicated by the arrow b. An adhesive is applied to the vertical sealing edge 11 as previously noted, and is also applied to the component bottom panel 20a, to the pocket-forming subpanels 28 and 35, and to the component bottom panel 20b, as indicated by the dotted surfaces of these panels in FIG. 2.

As indicated by the arrows c and d in FIG. 3, the blank 1 is folded along the vertical score lines 40 and 41 such that the sealing edge 11 is superposed upon and secured to the edge of the side wall panel component 10a, thereby joining the components 10a and 10b to form the side wall panel 10. In addition, the subpanels 20a, 20b, 28 and 35 are folded through about score line 42 and onto the back surface of the blank 1, as indicated by arrows e and 1. As a result, subpanel 28 is folded about subpanel 29 in surrounding relationship and secured thereto; similarly, components 20a and 20b of the first bottom panel 20 are folded about the second bottom panel 22 and secured thereto, and subpanel 35 is folded about the subpanel 36 and secured thereto.

The cross-sectional View of FIG. 4 taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3, illustrates more clearly the structure of the base of the bag resulting from the folding indicated in FIG. 3 and discussed above. The second bottom panel 22 is folded upwardly and back upon itself through 180 along the horizontal score line 42 (not shown). The portion of component 20a of the first bottom panel 20 between the horizontal score lines 42 and 6 is superposed on the upwardly folded portion of panel 22 and secured thereto by the adhesive. The portion of component 20a between the score line 42 (not shown) and the bottom edge 18 is folded downwardly through 180 about score line 42 and back upon the portion of the second bottom panel 22 between the score lines 42 and 6 (not shown). The panel 20a is thus folded about the panel 22 in surrounding relationship therewith and secured thereto.

Following the folding and adhesive securing together of the blank 1, as indicated in FIGS. 2 to 3, the bag is opened or expanded and further folded to its completed form. A suitable technique for this purpose is to insert mandrels into the bag from its top, as indicated in FIG. 5. Mandrels 50, with suitable actuating mechanisms (not shown) are inserted into the bag in closely spaced relationship and thereafter moved to the spaced-apart relationship illustrated. As the mandrels 50 move apart, the bag is folded along the vertical score lines 2 to 5. As a result, the side wall panels 12 and 14 are spaced apart and positioned in opposed relationship; similarly, the side wall panel 10, comprising the component side wall panels 10a and 10b, is spaced apart from, and positioned in opposed relationship to the side wall panel 13.

As the mandrels 50 move apart, the pocket forming subpanels 30 and 37 are folded along score line 6 and brought into superposed relationship with the respectively associated subpanels 28, 29 and 35, 36, forming a pair of pockets 43 and 44, respectively. The pockets 43 and 44 respectively include as bottom, exterior subpanels, the first subpanels 28 and 35. The first bottom components Ztla and 24b, joined together to form the first bottom panel 20, provide the exterior bottom panel of the bag. The second bottom panel 2-2 of the blank 1, superposed upon and secured to the first bottom panel 20, provides an interior bottom panel; similarly, the second subpanels 29 and 3 5, connected with the interior base panel 22, are superposed upon, and secured to the bottom exterior subpanels 28 and 35, respectively, and provide interior bottom subpanels of the pockets 43 and 44. Thus, the entire base of the bag, including both the bottom and the pockets, is of a double thickness, reinforced construction, providing substantial strength.

In FIG. 6, the construction of the bag is completed and the bag is shown in its configuration when in use. The pockets 43 and 44 are folded upwardly along the base horizontal score line 6 into contiguous relationship with their respectively associated end wall panels 12 and 14, whereby the base of the bag assumes the square configuration of the bottom panels only. The upwardly folded position of the pockets 43 and 44 secures the bottom of the bag closely to the bottom edges of the end walls 12 and 1'4. Further, the pockets 43 and 44 are thereby rendered unobstrusive. The bag may be received readily within a suitable container, for example, a garbage can having a square configuration similar to base panel 20, without interference between the pockets 43, 44 and the outer container.

Closure flap 1'7 extends along a portion of the top edge of each of the end wall panels 12 and 14 adjacent to the side wall panel 13. Since panels 12 and 14 are folded along score lines 3 and 4 into perpendicularrelat-ion to panel 13, the flap 17 is likewise folded along score lines 3 and 4. The transversely extending portions of flap- 17 caused by these folds maintain the flap in its inwardly folded, or tucked-in, position, facilitating neat and efficient packing or depositing of goods or refuse in the bag.

The bag of the invention is designed to enable its being folded into a collapsed condition, as indicated in FIG. 8. The end walls 12 and 14 are folded upon themselves along their respectively associated vertical score lines 40 and 41. The pockets 43 and 44 are folded inwardly against the end wall panels 12 and 14 and the bottom is folded upwardly against one of the side wall panels, such as against the panel 13. The collapsed wall panels may of course be further folded about the bottom to provide an essentially square, fiat package enabling convenient storage of the bag when not in use.

The bag is illustrated in FIG. 7 in its expanded condition, enabling utilization of its reserve capacity. The bag may be employed initially, in the configuration indicated in FIG. 6, for deposit of garbage or other refuse therein. When the bag becomes full, flap 17 is unfolded about the top horizontal score line 16 into a vertical position. The bag is then raised by pulling upwardly upon the top edges of any of the walls or the flap 17. The weight of the contents of the bag creates a downward pressure upon the bottom of the bag, causing the pockets 43 and 44 to unfold about the horizontal score line 6 and'to expand. As the pockets 43 and 44 unfold and expand, thereby providing reserve capacity, the bottom of the bag drops downwardly and the end walls 12 and 14 bulge outwardly, providing additional storage capacity.

The reserve capacity of the bag, thus provided, will enable the contents of the bag to settle downwardly and be received completely within the bag and below its top edge 15a. Closure flap 17 then is moved across and folded over the top edge 15a of the side wall panel 10' and of adjacent portions of the end wall panels 12 and 14 and secured thereto by the adhesive to close the top of the bag. The bag and its contents may then be disposed of without danger of spillage from the bag, even in those instances when the bag has been filled initially to or above its full capacity.

In FIG. 9 there is shown the bottom portion of a bag of the general configuration of FIG. 6, modified by the addition of retaining strips, identical elements being indicated by identical numerals. Retaining strips 51 and 52 each have a pressure sensitive adhesive surface by which they are affixed to the flaps 43 and 44 respectively, and to adjacent surfaces of the respectively associated end Wall panels 12 and 14m secure and maintain the pockets 43 and 44 in their upwardly folded positions. strips 51 and 52 thereby prevent the pockets 43 and 44 from unfolding inadvertently, as would be undesirable when the bag is being used to carry packages.

When it is desired to utilize the reserve capacity of the bag, the retaining strips 51 and 52 are removed. The retaining strips 51 and 52 include at one or both ends thereof plain or nonadhesively coated tabs 51a and 52a, respectively, which are grasped to facilitate the removal.

Prior to the bag being employed for a purpose, such as the depositing of refuse therein, in which it is desired to subsequently utilize the reserve capacity of the bag, the retaining strips 51 and 52 are removed in the manner hereinbefore described. The bag is placed within a garbage can or other receptacle and, after having been filled to capacity, it is lifted out of the receptacle by pulling upwardly on one or more of the wall panels. The weight of the contents of the bag exerts a downward pressure on the bottom as the bag is suspended by the wall panels, and the pockets 43 and 44 unfold and provide the reserve capacity.

If the bag is not placed within a receptacle while material, such as refuse, is deposited therein, it is preferable that the retaining strips 51 and 52. remain in position, securing the pockets 43 and 44 in their collapsed condition. When the bag is filled to capacity, the strips 51 and 52 are removed, releasing the pockets 43 and 44 and allowing them to shift to their open condition to provide the reserve capacity for the bag.

As a possible alternative, the retaining strips 51 and 52 may not be coated with an adhesive in the portion thereof underlying the pockets 43 and 44, respectively, thereby forming a sleeve with the opposed surfaces of the end wall panels 12 and 14. Due to the relative stiffness of the sheet material 1 from which the bag is formed, the pockets 43 and 44 will be retained within the sleeve; to effect their release, it is only necessary to pull the pockets 43 and 44 downwardly and thus remove them from within the sleeves.

Various other types of retaining strips may be employed as an alternative to the adhesive, pressure responsive strips 51 and 52. For example, retaining strips may be permanently affixed to the pockets 43 and 44 and to the adjacent surfaces of the corresponding end wallpanels 12 and 14, the strips including perforations aligned with the underlying edges of the pockets 43 and 44. To release the pockets 43 and 44, the portions thereof extending above the strips are grasped and pulled downwardly, tearing the retaining strips along the perforations. In accordance with a further alternative, tear strings or rip cords may be provided on the undersurface of the permanently afiixed retaining strips. By pulling the tear strings outwardly and downwardly, for example, the retaining strips are .severed along the portions thereof overlying the edges of the pockets 43 and 44, thereby releasing them.

There is indicated in FIGS. 10 to 12 an alternative folding technique whereby the blank 1 of FIG. 1 may be folded along the identical score lines indicated therein to provide a bag of the same general configuration as that shown in FIG. 6. but wherein the base of the bag will have as an exterior bottom panel the unitary panel 22 rather than the panel 20 formed from the component panels 20a and 20b. As shown in FIG. 10, closure flap 17 is folded downwardly along the top horizontal score line 16 and onto the side wall panel 13 and the adjacent portions of the end wall panels 12 and 14. The blank 1 is folded along the vertical score lines 4 and 5 and simul- The retaining taneously along the diagonal score lines 31 and 32, subpanel 35 being shown positioned above subpanel 36 preparatory to being superposed thereon.

In FIG. 11 is shown the construction of the end of the bag resulting from the folding steps indicated in FIG. 10. The bottom panel component 20b is superposed upon the bottom panel 22; the subpanel 35 is superposed upon the subpanel 36 and subpanel 37, which is connected with the end wall panel 14 and with the subpanels 35 and 36, is superposed upon the subpanel 35. A suitable adhesive is applied to the surface of the bottom panel 22 and the subpanel 36 whereby the component bottom panel 20b and the subpanel 35, respectively, are secured thereto.

The subpanel 37 and the adhesively secured subpanels 35 and 36 form a pocket 44'. In the pocket 44 formed in accordance with the first folding technique and shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 6, the subpanel 37 is the top subpanel; subpanel 37 is also the top subpanel in pocket 44. However, whereas subpanels 35 and 36 are the exterior and interior subpanels, respectively, of pocket 44, they are the interior and exterior subpanels, respectively, of pocket 44'.

For ease of illustration, the remainder of the bag has not been shown in either an initial or a completed stage of construction. It will readily be appreciated, however, that subpanel 21 is folded along score lines 24 and 25 to position the subpanels 30, 28, and 29 in superposed relationship as top, and interior and exterior bottom subpanels, respectively. The interior and exterior bottom subpanels 28 and 29, respectively, are secured together, preferably by a suitable adhesive. In folding the pocketforming panel 21, the blank 1 is also folded along score lines 2 and 3, whereby the component bottom panel 20a is superposed upon and adhesively secured to the exterior bottom panel 22. The component bottom panel 20a overlies and is secured to the sealing edge 11 to provide, with the component bottom panel 20b, an interior bottom panel 20.

As shown in FIG. 11, the component side wall panels a and 10b are secured together by the sealing edge 11 to provide a unitary side wall panel 10. To complete the construction the pockets 43' and 44' are folded upwardly along the base horizontal score line 6 and upwardly into contiguous relationship with the respectively associated end wall panels 12 and 14.

The completed bag may be folded into a flat, generally square package as illustrated in FIG. 12. The bag has a solid exterior bottom panel 22, as contrasted to the exterior bottom panel 20 of FIG. 5, which comprises the adhesively secured-together component bottom panels 20a and 2012.

A bag formed in accordance with either of the folding techniques from the blank indicated in FIG. 1 therefore is provided with a double thickness base comprising superposed layers of the sheet material adhesively secured together. The square configuration of the bottom panels facilitates efiicient packing of goods within the bag. In addition, the double thickness of both the bottom panels and the pockets assures adequate strength for carrying packages in the bag, such as when the bag is used as a grocery bag, and also assures adequate strength against tear-out due to the weight and/or dampness of garbage or other refuse contained within the bag. Preferably, the sheet material from which the bag is formed is resistant to moisture and fluids such as water and grease to assure that the strength of the bag will not be impaired upon exposure to such fluids.

The sealing flap provides unique advantages in that, by being folded within the bag when materials are being deposited therein, the user of the 'bag is not encouraged by the presence of the flap to fill the bag to any greater extent than he would be in the absence of the closure flap. However, the flap remains available for sealing the bag, thereby avoiding spillage when disposing of the bag and its contents. The unique provision of the reserve capacity, provided by the pockets when they are unfolded into their expanded condition, assures that the bag, even though filled to overflowing, may nevertheless subsequently be expanded to provide suflicient capacity to enable its being sealed prior to disposal.

Numerous modifications of the bag of the invention and the blank from which it is formed will readily be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Illustratively, the panels defined by the various score lines in the blank 1 of FIG. 1 may be defined therein in alternative arrangements. For example, the score line 40 may coincide with the edge 7 of the blank 1 and the portion of the blank 1 defined in FIG. 1 by the edge 7 and the score line 40 may be provided along the right hand edge 8 of the blank 1. The sealing flap 11, however, then would be appended to the edge of the panel 12 defined by the vertical score line 40. In addition, the triangular portions of the blank 1 which have been removed from the pocket-forming panels 21 and 23 by the diagonal cuts defining the edges 26, 27 and 33, 34 need not be removed; for example, these diagonal edges may instead comprise diagonal score lines along which the blank 1 would be folded. In this event, however, the pockets 43 and 44 would include four superposed layers of sheet material as the subpanels rather than the three indicated in the figures as hereinbefore discussed. The bag has been shown to include a bottom of square configuration; the bottom, however, need not be square and instead may be of a rectangular or other configuration, as desired. Many other modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art and thus it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such modifications and adaptations of the invention as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A collapsible bag with reserve capacity comprising a pair of opposed end wall panels and a pair of opposed side wall panels, interior and exterior bottom panels connected to respectively associated ones of said pair of opposed side wall panels, said interior and exterior bottom panels being secured together in superposed relationship and joining said pair of opposed side wall panels, a pair of top subpanels, a pair of interior bottom subpanels, and a pair of exterior bottom subpanels, said subpanels being arranged to form a pair of pockets joining respectively associated ones of said pair of opposed end wall panels to said interior and exterior bottom panels, each of said pockets comprising, in superposed relationship, one of said top subpanels and one each of said interior and exterior bottom subpanels arranged to define a space between the top subpanel and the interior bottom subpanel communicating with the interior of the bag, said interior and exterior bottom subpanels being secured together in overlapping relation to provide a double-thickness bottom for each said pocket.

2. A collapsible bag as recited in claim 1 wherein there is further provided a closure flap extending along one of said pair of opposed side wall panels and a portion of each of said end wall panels adjacent thereto, said closure flap being movable across the top of the bag and securable to the other of said pair of opposed side wall panels and a portion of each of said end wall panels adjacent thereto to close the top of the bag.

3. A collapsible bag with reserve capacity comprising a pair of opposed end wall panels and a pair of opposed side wall panels, interior and exterior bottom panels connected to respectively associated ones of said pair of opposed side wall panels, said interior and exterior bottom panels being secured together in superposed relationship, a pair of top subpanels connected to respectively associated ones of said pair of opposed end wall panels, a pair of interior bottom subpanels connected to said interior bottom panel and to respectively associated ones of said pair of top subpanels, and a pair of exterior bottom subpanels connected to said exterior bottom panel and to respectively associated ones of said pair of top subpanels, said subpanels being arranged to form a pair of pockets, joining respectively associated ones of said pair of opposed end wall panels, each of said pockets comprising one of said top subpanels and one each of said interior and exterior bottom subpanels, said top subpanel and said interior and exterior bottom subpanels being folded into superposed relationship to define a space between the top subpanel and the interior bottom subpanel communicating with the interior of the bag and said interior and exterior bottom subpanels being secured together in overlapping relation to provide a doublethickness bottom for each said pocket.

4. A collapsible garbage bagwith reserve capacity comprising a pair of opposed end wall panels and a pair of opposed side wall panels, each of said wall panels including a top edge and a bottom edge, a base including bottom panels and a pair of pockets, said bottom panels joining said side wall panels along the bottom edges thereof and said pockets joining respectively associated ones of said end wall panels to said base panels, said pockets normally being maintained in a closed condition and folded upwardly along the bottom edges of said respectively associated end wall panels into contiguous relationship therewith to enable collapsing said bag when empty and being shiftable from said closed condition into an open condition in which said pockets communicate with the interior of the bag in response to the simultaneous application of a downward force to said bottom panels and an upward force to one of said wall panels to provide said reserve capacity, and a closure flap extending along the top edge of one of said side wall panels and a portion of each of said end wall panels adjacent thereto, said closure flap being movable across the top of the bag and securable to the other of said pair of opposed side wall panels and a portion of each of said end wall panels adjacent thereto to close the top of the bag.

5. A collapsible bag with reserve capacity comprising a pair of opposed end wall panels and a pair of opposed side wall panels formed in alternating order from a unitary sheet of material by folding said sheet along parallel, vertically disposed score lines defining said pairs of end and side wall panels in said sheet, interior and exterior bottom panels connected to respectively associated ones of said side wall panels and defined in said sheet by the vertical score lines defining said respectively associated ones of said side wall panels and by an intermediate horizontal score line, said interior and exterior bottom panels being folded along said intermediate horizontal score line into superposed relationship and secured together, and a pair of pockets formed from a pair of pocket-forming panels, each of said pocket-forming panels being connected to a respectively associated one of said end wall panels and defined therefrom by said horizontal score line and being connected to said bottom panels and defined therefrom by the vertical score lines defining said respectively associated end wall panel, each of said pockets including a top subpanel connected to the respectively associated end wall panel and interior and exterior bottom subpanels connected to said interior and exterior bottom panels, respectively, and connected to said top subpanel, said top subpanel and said interior and exterior bottom subpanels being folded into superposed relationship and said interior and exterior bottom subpanels being secured together.

6. A collapsible bag as recited in claim wherein there is further provided a closure flap integral with one of said pair of opposed side wall panels and with a portion of each of said end wall panels adjacent thereto and defined in said sheet by a top horizontal score line, said closure flap being movable across the top of the bag and securable to the other of said pair of opposed side wall It) I panels and a portion of each of said end. wall panels adjacent thereto to close the top of the bag.

7. A bag comprising a first pair of opposed side wall panels and a second pair of opposed end wall panels formed contiguously in alternating order from a unitary sheet of material, interior and exterior rectangular bottom panels secured together in superposed relationship, a pair of top subpanels, a pair of interior bottom subpanels, and a pair of exterior bottom subpanels, said subpanels being arranged to form a pair of pockets each joining a respectively associated one of said pair of opposed end wall panels to said superposed interior and exterior bottom panels, each of said pockets including, in superposed relationship, one of said top subpanels and one each of said interior and exterior bottom subpanels, said top subpanel being connected to an associated one of said end wall panels and said interior and exterior bottom subpanels being connected to said interior and exterior bottom panels, respectively, and to said top subpanel to define a space between the top subpanel and the interior bottom subpanel communicating with the interior of the bag, and said interior and exterior bottom subpanels being secured together in overlapping relation to provide a double-thickness bottom for each said pocket.

8. A 'blank of sheet material for forming a collapsible bag having reserve capacity, said sheet having a plurality of vertical score lines and an intermediate horizontal score line intersecting each of said vertical score lines, said vertical score lines defining, above said horizontal score line, alternate end and side wall panels, and, below said horizontal score line, alternate base and pocket-forming panels, said base and pocket-forming panels being connected to said side and end wall panels, respectively, each of said pocket-forming panels including diagonal score lines passing through the intersections of said base horizontal score line and the vertical score lines which define said pocket-forming panel, said diagonal score lines defining, with said intermediate horizontal score line, a top subpanel, and defining, with said vertical score lines which define said pocket-forming panel from said alternate base panels, a pair of bottom subpanels diverging downwardly from the lower extremity of said top subpanel, each of said bottom subpanels having a maximum vertical extent equal to the vertical extent of said base panels and each of said top subpanels having a maximum vertical extent equal to half the vertical extent of said base panels.

9. A generally rectangular sheet of material as recited in claim 8 wherein there is further provided a closure flap connected to one of said side wall panels and a portion of each of said end wall panels adjacent thereto and defined in said sheet by a top horizontal score line.

10. A generally rectangular sheet of material as recited in claim 8 wherein there is further provided a sealing strip along one vertical edge of said sheet of material adapted for overlying and being secured to the opposite vertical edge of said sheet of material.

11. A collapsible bag with reserve capacity comprising a plurality of wall panels each including a top edge and a bottom edge, a base interconnecting said wall panels along the bottom edges thereof, and a pocket joining said base and one of said wall panels, said pocket being shiftable between a collapsed condition and an open condition in which it communicates with the interior of the opened bag to provide said reserve capacity, and a closure flap extending along the top edge of at least one of said wall panels, said closure flap being movable across the top of the bag and securable to at least the opposite one of said plurality of wall panels to close the top of the bag,

12. A collapsible bag with reserve capacity as recited in claim 11 including retaining means for securing said pocket in said collapsed condition, said pocket being releasable from said retaining means for shifting thereof from said collapsed condition to said open condition.

13. A collapsible bag as recited in claim 12 wherein said retaining means comprises an adhesive strip.

14. A collapsible :bag with reserve capacity comprising a pair of opposed end wall panels and a pair of opposed side wall panels, each of said wall panels including a top edge and a bottom edge, bottom panels and a pair of pockets, said bottom panels and pair of pockets together providing a base for said bag, said bottom panels joining said side wallpanels along the bottom edges thereof and said pockets joining respectively associated ones of said end wall panels to said base panels, said pockets normally Ibeing maintained in a collapsed condition and folded upwardly along the bottom edges of said respectively associated end wall panels into contiguous relationship therewith, retaining means securing said pockets to said respectively associated end wall panels for maintaining said closed condition thereof, said pockets being releasable from said retaining means and shiftable from said closed condition to an open condition in which said pockets communicate with the interior of the bag to provide said reserve capacity.

15. A collapsible bag as recited in claim 14 wherein there is further provided a closure flap extending along 12 the top edge of one of said side Wall panels and movable across the top of the bag and securable to the other of said pair of opposed side wall panels to close the top of the bag.

16. A bag as defined in claim 4, wherein each of said end wall panels has a central vertical score line to enable inward folding of said end wall portions for collapsing said bag, and wherein said pockets are foldable inwardly with said respectively associated end wall panels.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 405,616 6/ 1889 Stilwell 229--60 768,340 8/1904 Or-msbee 22976 2,346,106 4/ 1944 Hannigan 2295l 2,381,850 8/ 1945 Williams 2295 8 FOREIGN PATENTS 626,436 8/1961 Canada.

JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner.

DAVID M. BOCKENEK, Examiner. 

1. A COLLAPSIBLE BAG WITH REVERSE CAPACITY COMPRISING A PAIR OF OPPOSED END WALL PANELS AND A PAIR OF OF OPPOSED SIDE WALL PANELS, INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR BOTTOM PANELS CONNECTED TO RESPECTIVELY ASSOCIATED ONES OF SAID PAIR OF OPPOSED SIDE WALL PANELS, SAID INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR BOTTOM PANELS BEING SECURED TOGETHER IN SUPERPOSED RELATIONSHIP AND JOINING SAID PAIR OF OPPOSED SIDE WALL PANELS, A PAIR OF TOP SUBPANELS, A PAIR OF INTERIOR BOTTOM SUBPANELS, AND A PAIR OF EXTERIOR BOTTOM SUBPANELS, SAID SUBPANELS BEING ARRANGED TO FORM A PAIR OF POCKETS JOINING RESPECTIVELY ASSOCIATED ONES OF SAID PAIR OF OPPOSED END WALL PANELS TO SAID INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR BOTTOM PANELS, EACH OF SAID POCKETS COMPRISING, IN SUPERPOSED RELATIONSHIP, ONE OF SAID TOP SUBPANELS AND ONE EACH OF SAID INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR BOTTOM SUBPANELS ARRANGED TO DEFINE A SPACE BETWEEN THE TOP SUBPANEL AND THE INTERIOR BOTTOM SUBPANEL COMMUNICATING WITH THE INTERIOR OF THE BAG, SAID INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR BOTTOM SUBPANELS BEING SUCURED TOGETHER IN OVERLAPPING RELATION TO PROVIDE A DOUBLE-THICKNESS BOTTOM FOR EACH SAID POCKET. 